Method and means for treating yarns



Sept. 21, 1937. H. JANSSEN I 2,093,914

METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING YARNS File d Oct. 24. 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: Jim Jizmssen BY =4 534.4% ATTORNE.

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H. JANSSEN' METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING YARNS l\ed Oct. 241935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: .Emse

Sept. 21, 1937. JANSSEN 2,093,914

METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING YARNS Filed Oct. 24, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fitz--5- g 16 9 15 f 55 INVENTOR:

l flan Jdnssew,

ATTORN V Y Sept. 21, 1937'. H; JANSSEN METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING YARNS Filed Oct. 24. 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v INVENTOR. Jim 03y Jai /men BY 5 ATTORNE;

m me Sept. 21, rear Henry Janssen, Wyomissing, Pa assignor to 'llextile Machine Works, Wynmissing, Pa, a corporationof Peyivania Application October 24, 1935, Serial No. 46,538

25 Claims.

10 izing structure, tensioning and drying mechanisms, a forming and smoothing device, and finally wound on individual spools or bobbins.

One object of this invention is to provide a novel method, and arrangement of parts for effecting the method, of the type referred to and which will produce an efficient operating structure compact in nature and adapted to handle a plurality of individual yarns throughout the processing thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method of, and a novel arrangement of mechanism for, sizing and treating a plurality of yarns simultaneously.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide Q a novel assembly of elements for simultaneously scraping the excess impregnating fluid from a plurality of individual yarns, andat the same time equalize the tension of the yarns as they pass this point in their travel to the drying mechanism. k i i Another object of this invention is to produce throughout a tortuous path formed by a plurality of power driven rollers, to work the sizing into theinterstices of the yarn.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method for, and arrangement of elements for, simultaneously drying and applying a substantially constant tension to thetreated yarn 40 to substantially remove the elasticity of the yarn, and give it.a permanent set.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved means and method for treat- 45 ing the yarn during the drying operation, which consists in passing the individual yarns through die elements at a point where the sizing on the yarn is at a tacky or adhesive stage during the drying operation, to positively form the individual yarns, and press the loose and protruding fibers of each yarn into the body of the yarn.

Another object of this invention is to produce a novel arrangement of parts that will effect the simultaneous winding of the plurality of yarns upon individual bobbins or spools.

novel mechanism for passing the coated yarn while it is passing throughout a circuitous path With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent/from the following detailed description of one form of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel method, elements,

features of construction and combination of parts incooperative relationship as more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the novel yarn processing apparatus embodying a preferred assembly of parts constituting the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 6- -6 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus shown at the left in Fig. 1; I

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5, looking from right to left;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the scraper elements taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the scraper elements shown in Fig. '1; Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the' line 9-9 of Flg. 1;

Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of some of the elements forming the new and improved yam treating mechanism which'is shown in elevation in Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a front elevation of certain essential elements of the invention and looking in the di-' rection of the arrows lI--ll of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic representation, in perspective, of certain essential elements of the improved mechanism illustrating the path of travel of the yarn during its treatment by the apparatus constituting this invention.

Referring particularly to the herein illustrated embodiment of the invention in Figure 1 of the drawings, a base or support I is mounted in spaced relation to a plurality of standards 2, and a plurality of beams 3 are rigidly fastened to the support l and the set of standards 2; the whole thus constituting an elongated supporting base or platform for the various yarn carrying and treating elements to be presently described.

A tank 5, which is adapted to contain a processing medium, is fixedly mounted on a bracket 4 which in turn is attached to one of the vertical ends of the base or support I. One of the standards of base [preferably includes elongated slots which extend nearly to the bottom thereof,

- refilling and threading of the yarn guide.

for adjustably mounting bracket 4. This slotted connection provides means whereby the bracket 4 may be lowered so that the top of the processing tank 5 clears the bottom of the yarn guide device The tank 5 has a cover or lid which acts as a supporting element for the primary yarn reel I on its outer surface, and for the guide standard 8 on its inner surface. lIhis cover 6 is supported independently of the tank 5, by Z brackets l3,

7 one foot of each of which is bolted to support I and the other feet of which are secured to cover 6. The guide standard 8 depends into the processing medium and has a yarn guide 9 attached to its lower end. This yarn guide comprises two supporting arms II], III held in fixed spaced relation by block I l and screws l2 which pass through the arms Ill, Ill and into block H. The guide standard 8 is secured to block H by pinning or other fastening means. There are mounted between each of the ends of arms l6, I0 grooved sheaves ll adapted to freely rotate on axles passing through the ends of the arms l0, H), as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The location of the grooved sheaves l1, l1 adjacent the bottom of the tank 5, provides guiding means about which the individual yarns pass, thus exposing the same to the processing medium so long as a substantial amount of the medium is present within the tank.

Two standards l8, l8 are mounted on the outer surface of lid 6, each of which is provided with bearings l9, l9 adapted to support shaft 20 which in turn supports the primary reel 1.

In addition to the guide standard 8 being attached to the under surface of lid 6, a scraper unit 2| is also fixedly attached thereto in such relation that the effective scraper action takes place along substantially a vertical plane tangent to one of the grooved sheaves I1. This scraper unit, Figs. '7 and 8, comprises brackets 22 secured to the under surface of lid 6 by screws passing into threaded holes 23. tudinal dimension .ofthe brackets 22, is a pivot shaft 24 upon which is supported a plurality of scraper levers 25. Each of the levers 25 has fixed to its scraper engaging portion, a block 26 having a grooved pointed end portion. A serrated member 21 is mounted between the standards 22 for cooperation with the scraper blocks 26. The projections created by the serrations are likewise grooved, and said grooves are aligned with the grooved pointed end portions of the blocks 26. Each pair of aligned grooves forms cylindrical passages of substantially the diameter of the thread which passes therethrough during the treating ,thereof. For the purpose of urging the blocks 26 into cooperative relation with the serrated member 21, one end of a coiled spring 29 is attached to the lower end of each scraper lever {these springs 'haveJdentical characteristics and thus provide means for equalizing the tension on the individual yarns as they pass this point. The

main reel 1 has simultaneously wound thereon a plurality of individual yarns which are fabricated from a plurality of braiding units operating in tandem. These yarns are produced under as nearly constant conditions as possible, neverthe- Midway of the longi,

less the rate of production varies to some extent. The simultaneous winding of these yarns on the primary drum 1 causes some of the yarns to be wound tighter than others due to the varied rate of production. It is, therefore, essential that these varying yarn tensions are compensated for and equalized prior to the passing of the yams to the drying and tensioning mechanism. The scraper unit 2|, therefore, is a dual acting device which functions to scrape the excess impregnating fluid from the individual yarns, and simultaneous therewith, to equalize the tension of each individual yarn of the plurality as they pass this point. A)

Two series of holes are situated in the cover 6, the holes of one of the series arearranged in alignment with the grooves of the left hand sheave I! of the yarn guide 9, Fig. 5, while the holes of the other series are arranged in alignment with the grooves of the right hand sheave [1, as well as the cylindrical passages formed by the blocks 26 and the serrated member 21. A freely rotatable drum or sheave 28 is mounted on the outer surface of the cover 6, and it is provided with a grooved peripheral surface which is adapted to guide the yarns that are emerging from the processing tank. To this end,-the sheave 28 is mounted so that its grooves are in alignment with that series of holes in the cover 6 which are arranged in alignment with the cylindrical passages formed by the blocks 26 and the serrated member 21.

Two identical inverted U-shaped standards 32 and 33 are fixedly mounted at the forward end of the base or support and combinedly provide yarn tension regulating mechanism. Each of these standards is provided with a plurality of vertically arranged power driven drums 34, having aligned peripheral grooves, which are adapted to provide a tortuous pathfor the passage of the yarns, see Figs. 4, 6 and 12. One of the series of drums is driven at a different velocity from that of the other series, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. However, in the present embodiment of the invention, each drum of each series is geared together in a 1:1 ratio.

A compound sheave 35 made up of a plurality of individual sheaves 36 is mounted to freely and independently rotate on a shaft 31. The shaft 31 is supported by bearings 38 and 39 at the forwardmost portion of the base I. A compound sheave 40, see Fig. 9', similar to sheave 35, is rotatably mounted in bearings 4| on the beams 3. The individual sheaves 36 of the compound sheaves 35 and 40 are provided with a number of circumferential grooves equal to the number of yarns simultaneously treated, and the spacing of the two compound sheaves provide widely separated means about which the treated yarns are passed during processing thereof.

Mounted at the rearward portion of support I and adjacent to the processing tank 5, is an inverted U-shaped standard 42 adapted to support a plurality of individual spools 43,- each of which is adapted to receive one of the plurality of yarns as the same passes from the hereinbefore described processing apparatus. During winding of p mounted on the standard 42, and support shafts 66 and 61 at spaced points therealong. Each of the shafts 66 and 61 are grooved in a forward and reverse direction to form an endless traversing cam path. Reciprocably operabie traversing nuts 68 and 69 are mounted on the traversing screws, and have integrally attached thereto, a vertically arranged slotted guide III as illustrated in Fig. 2. The drive for the shafts 66 and El,

including the yarn distributing guide will be hereinafter included with the description of the main drive for the apparatus.

The driving system for the assembly, as shown in Fig. 5, comprises a motor 46 connected through a coupling M to a speed reducer unit dd, which drives a drive shaft at a further reduced speed by gears Q9 and 50. A common power shaft 52 driven from the drive shaft 5! by sprocket chain 53 and sprockets located respectively on each of the drive and power shafts, is located between and passes through the standards 32 and 33. Mounted on each end of the power shaft 52 are pinions 5t and 55 respectively. A gear 56 meshing with pinion 54 and operating in a '1: 1 ratio with respect to said pinion, is fixedly attached to a shaft of 'one of the drums 36 within standard 32. A gear 51 meshing with pinion 55 and operating in a ratio different than that of gears 55 and 55, is fixedly attached to a shaft of one of the drums 3% within standard 39. The gear ratio of gears 55 and 51 is such that the series ofdrums 3% within standard as rotate slightly faster than those with- 32 in such relation that opposite relative rotation in standard 32. The gears 55 and 5? are connected with drums within the standards 33 and is impartedto each series of said drums within the respective standards. By virtue of the gear ratio of gears 55 and 5'! being such as to rotate the drums 36 within bracket 33 at a faster speed than the drums 36 within bracket 32, a'constant tension is imparted to the processed cords as they pass between these sets of drums. This tension is distributed substantially evenly along the cords since the sheave elements 36 of the compound sheaves 35 and 40 are independently rotatable with respect to each other. Of course, a slight difference in tension actually occurs along the yarns due to thefriction of the individual elements 36 on their shafts, however, this difference is negligibleand the tension applied tothe yarns is substantially even throughout the circuito path provided by sheaves 35 and 40.

As the wet sized yarnspass over the compound sheaves 35 and 40, and before they dry, the contact of the yarnswith the metallic pulleys causes the fibers on the outer surface of the yarn that .contact the metal sheave elements to adhere.

thereto, thus as the yarns continue on their travel from the sheaves these outer fibers are raised, and present an unsatisfactory product. To remedy this condition, a yarn forming and treating device indicated generally at 90, see Figs. and 11, is mbunted on member 9| which is provided with a series of laterally spaced holes 92 for effecting lateral adjustment of said device.

the individual yarns, for the purpose of forming the yarn and compressing the loose fibers protruding therefrom, into the body of the yarn. Rearwardly of the standards 93 and 94, is a shaft IOI collared as disclosed by numerals I02, and v aoestsra supporting a tension spring I 03. A pivotal arm it is mounted between standards 93 and 94 on shaft I05 that is cottered at both ends. Arm I04 is rigidly fixed to shaft I05, and extends forwardly and rearwardly from said pivot. At the forward end of arm I04, is a member I06 which is complemental to table 98, and which is adapted to cooperate therewith to provide forming and pressing means for the yarns. The element. I06 is fixed to theforward end of arm I04 by screw I011. The rearward end of arm I04 is provided with means connecting the free end of tension spring I03, which maintains the complementai elements 99 and I06 in cooperative position to effect the desired forming and pressing of this device. The location of this device 90 is at that point In the travel of the yarns between the sheaves 35 and 49 where the processing medium attains a tacky state. The mounting of said unit is, therefore, adjustable laterally of its supporting element 9i for the purpose of positioning the unit .at the correct position for any given conditions of temperature and humidity of the surroundin atmosphere.

A grooved belt pulley 5B is centrally positioned on the power shaft 52 and is adapted to independently drive the spools 43 through individual belts 59. Sprockets Ii are fixed to each of the shafts 56 and 51, and are connected by chain I2 for the purpose of imparting similar motion thereto. In addition to the sprocket I I, one shaft is also provided with a ratchet wheel I3. Pivoted on the shaft supporting the ratchet wheel I3, is a slotted lever I4 to which is pivotally mounted a pawl I5 for cooperation. with the ratchet wheel.

I3. One end of a lever I6 is adjustably mounted in the slot of lever It to vary the pawling action of pawl I5 and ratchet IS. The other end of lever I6 is provided with an eccentric strap connector I8 which is mounted, for oscillation, on an eccen trio head I9 fixed to the shaft 5i. Thus it will be seen that for every rotation of shaft 5|, the pawl I5 racks one or more teeth of the ratchet I3, depending upon the position of the adjustable connection.II.- This racking causes the reciprocably operable traversing nuts 68 and 69, and consequently the slotted guide III to move continuously inone, then the other direction across the spools. 03 to properly guide the processed yarn thereon.

An air circulation means is provided in combination with this novel arrangement of apparatus in the form of a fan 00. A bracket 8|- providing a support for fan 90 is centrally attached to a strut extending between the standards of base or support I. The fan is so mounted on this support 9| that its delivered air passes over the strands of'the treated yarn while the same pass over sheaves 35 and 00. It is, therefore, evident that the treated yarns are dried while under tension during their repeated passage over the compound sheaves 35 and 40.

In the operation of the apparatus, reel I is received from 'a fabricating machine, wherein a plurality of cords are produced simultaneously and wound together on the reel, and'due to this winding, varying degrees of tension are present in the individual yarns. The-reel is mounted in bearings I9, and the ends of the plurality of cords are fed as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 12, down through one series of holes in the lid 6 into the processing tank 5, around guide pulleys l1 upwardly through the scraping and tension equalizing device 2|, thence through the other serie's of holes in lid 6 over guide pulley Z8 thence upwardly to the one series of drums 34 within standard 32, The cords are threaded in a tortuous path throughout this series of drums thus providing means whereby the processing medium is worked into the interstices of the cord on opposite surfaces thereof. From the series of drums 34 just mentioned, the plurality of cords pass over the compound drums 40 and 35, respectively, and at a point in the circuitous path over drums 35 and 40, where the sizing medium reaches its tacky, or adhesive state, these individual yarns pass through the forming device. Inasmuch as the individual units 36 of the compound drums 35 and 40 have a number of grooves in their peripheral surfaces equal to the number of cords simultaneously treated, it follows that the series of cords can be respectively and simultaneously wound around the sheave element 36, and thus each yarn of the series can be similarly treated. Upon passing around the compound drums 40 and 35, the yarns then pass upwardly to the tortuous path provided by the series of drums 34 within standard 33. As theseries of yarns advance beyond the series of drums forming the second tortuous path, they are threaded through the vertically slotted guide I0 and finally each yarn is wound on an individual spool 43.

It is thus seen, that a new and improved method of treating a plurality of yarns is effected, which includes the steps of passing the plurality of yarns through a sizing medium, removing the excess sizing medium and simultaneously equalizing the tension of all of said yarns, controllably tensioning the yarns while the same pass throughout a circuitous drying path, maintaining substantially constant tension on each of said yarns throughout the circuitous drying path, and moving fibers protruding from the surface of the yarns into contact with the yarns at a point in the drying path where the sizing on the yarns attains a tacky or adhesive state.

It is further manifest, that a novelarrangement of parts has been provided which will efflciently handle a plurality of yarns during the processing thereof. The apparatus provided will efliciently work the sizing into the interstices of the yarns by virtue: of the tortuous path producing mechanism. The arrangement of parts includes a novel dual acting scraper and tension The arrangement of parts equalizing device. additionally provides novel mechanism for applying substantially a constant tension to each of the plurality of yarns during the drying thereof. The novel apparatus also forms the yarn and compresses the upstanding loose fibers into the body of the yarn at the point where the sizing becomes tacky thus ensuring a final product of constant form and uniform characteristics. Finally, the novel arrangement of elements provides means for winding the individual yarns of the series of. yarns simultaneously treated on separate reels.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described, by which I obtain the above results, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed. I claim: V

1. In combination with a yarn processing apparatus, a main reel having wound thereon a plurality of individual yarns, a plurality of individual reels upon which the individual yarns are wound, means located at spaced points between said main reel and individual reels adapted to apply ten- 75 sion to said yarns, and independently rotatable means for substantially evenly distributing the tension along said yarns between said spacedpoints during the operation of the apparatus.

2. In combination with a yarn processing apparatus for treating a plurality of yarns simultaneously, means applying tension to said yarns between two spaced points comprising power driven drums at each point and driven at relatively difierent speeds, and independently rotatable means for substantially evenly distributing the tension applied to said yarns completely along said yarns between the two points.

3. In combination with a yarn processing apparatus for treating a plurality of yarns simultaneously, means applying tension to said Yarns between two spaced points comprising grooved drums at each point driven at relatively diiierent speeds, said drums being arranged in alignment to provide a tortuous path through which the plurality of yarns are adapted to be passed, and independently rotatable means for substantially evenly distributing the tension applied to said yarns completely along said yarns between the two points.

4. In a yarn processing apparatus,- means for supplying yarn, means for coating said yarn with a processing medium as it leaves the supply means, yarn tensioning means located at spaced points in the apparatus, means between said points for substantially evenly distributing the tension along said yarn comprising compound sheaves each including a plurality of independent loosely rotatable sections having single strand contact with the yarn.

5. In a yarn processing apparatus, means for supplying a plurality of individual yarns, means for simultaneously coating said yarns as they leave the supply means, yarn tensioning means located at spaced points in the apparatus, means between said points for substantially evenly distributing the tension along said yarns comprising compound sheaves each including a plurality of independent loosely rotatable sections having single strand contact with the yarns.

6. In a yarn processing apparatus, means for supplying yarn, means for coating said yarn with a processing medium as it leaves the supply means, yarn tensioning means located at spaced points in the apparatus, means between said points comprising compound sheaves each including a plurality of independent loosely rotatable sections, said yarn adapted to encircle said sheaves a plurality of times, and each section of said compound sheaves adapted to support one strand of said yarn, whereby tension applied to said yarn will be substantially evenly distributed throughout the travel of the yarn between said points.

'7. In a yarn processing apparatus, a supply reel having wound thereon a plurality of individual yarns, means for simultaneously subjecting all of said yarns to a processing medium, means effecting the movement of said yarns at different rates of speed through tortuous paths at a plurality of stations throughout the apparatus, and means located between said stations comprising a plurality of tension equalizing sheaves including a plurality of independent sections mounted on a common axis, each of said sections being adapted to support one of the plurality of yarns being treated.

8. In a yarn processing apparatus, a supply reel having wound thereon a plurality of indivldual yarns, means for simultaneously subjecting all of said yarns to a processing medium,

means eiiecting the movement of said yarns at different rates of 'speed through tortuous paths at a plurality of stations throughout the-apparatus, said means including a plurality of sets of grooved drums driven in tandem, and means located between said stations comprising a plurality of tension equalizing sheaves including a plurality of independent sections mounted on a common axis, each of said sections being adapted to support one of the plurality of yarns being treated.

9. In a yarn processing apparatus, a supply reel having wound thereon a plurality of individual yarns, means for simultaneously subjecting all of said yarns to a processing medium, means efiecting the movement of said yarns at difierent rates of speed through tortuous paths at a plurality of stations throughout theapparatus, said means including a plurality of sets of grooved drums driven in tandem, one of said sets rotating in an opposite relation relative to another set,

and means located between said stations compris ing a plurality of tension equalizing sheaves in- .cluding a plurality of independent sections mounted on a common axis, each of said sections being adapted to support one of the plurality of yarns being treated.

10. In a yarn processing apparatus, the combicated between said points comprising a plurality of compound sheaves, said sheaves each comprising a plurality of independent relatively rotatable sections having grooved peripheral surfaces, the number of grooves in each surface corresponding to the number of yarns simultaneously treated.

. 11. In combination with yarn processing apparatus, an adjustably mounted sizing tank, an independently mounted lid therefor, means attached to the upper surface of said lid for supporting a reel containing yarn to be processed, and the under surface of said lid supporting a yarn guide unit extending down into the sizing medium, and also supporting a scraper unit through which said yarn is. adapted to pass, whereby a compact unit including the supply of yarn, sizing medium and scraping mechanism is produced, and whereby the sizing tank can be lowered and removed from the apparatus without afiecting the remainder of the apparatus.

12. In a yarn processing apparatus, common reel means supporting a plurality of independent yarns adapted to be treated by said apparatus, a tank containing sizing medium through which said yarns are adapted to be passed, spaced means comprising compound sheaves made up of independent sections over which said yarns are adapted to pass, the combination with said tank of scraping and tension equalizing means comprising a plurality of independently pivoted fingers cooperating with acomplementary member, and between which the individual yarns are adapted to pass, thereby relieving the same of surplus sizing medium, and ensuring the individual yarns being under equal tension as they pass therethrough.

13. In a yarn processing device of the class described, common reel means supporting a plurality of independent yarns, a tank containing sizing medium through which said yarns are adapted to be passed, spaced compound sheaves,

comprising a plurality of independent rotatable sections over which said yarns are adapted to pass, and air circulatory means cooperating with said sheaves, the combination with said/tank, of

scraping and tension equalizing means comprising a plurality of independently pivoted fingers,

resilient means urging said fingersto cooperate nisms providing tortuous paths at different points in the apparatus through which the yarns are adapted to pass, said mechanisms adapted to be driven at difierent rates of speed to tension the yarns, tension equalizing means located between said points comprising a plurality of spaced compound sheaves about which said yarns are adapted to be passed, each sheave comprising a plurality of individual relatively rotatable sections, a plurality of individual reels adapted to receive the individual yarns, and single guiding means simultaneously guiding the plurality of yarns on their respective reels.

15. 'In combination with a yarn processing apparatus, a primary reel supporting a plurality of yarns, a sizing tank through which said yarns are adapted to be passed, means providing a tortuous path through which said yarns are adapted to pass comprising a set of vertically aligned horizontal drums driven in tandem, each drum provided with circumferential grooves and all of said grooves being aligned; whereby the sizing is worked into the interstices of the plurality of yarns during their passage through said tortuous path.

16. In a yarn processing apparatus wherein a plurality of yarns are'adapted to be simultaneously treated and passed throughout a circuitous path during processing thereof, positive drive means operating at a plurality of stations throughout said circuitous path and at different speeds to tension the yarns between said sta.-. tions, tension equalizing and drying means positioned between said stations, and means cooperating with and positioned relative to said drying means for'forming and smoothing the yarns when the processing medium on said yarns attains a tacky state.

1'7. A yarn processing apparatus of the class described comprising a main reel having wound thereon a plurality of yarns under varying degrees of tension, a tank supporting a processing medium" through which said yarns are to be passed, positive drive means located at a plurality of stations throughout said apparatus and operating at diflerent speeds for applying tension to said yarns, .means comprising individual spring urged die fingers through which said yarns are adapted to pass prior to engagement with said positive drive means, whereby the excess processing medium is removed from said yarns,

and whereby each yam of said plurality of yarns entersv said positive drive means under equal tension.

18. In a yarn processing apparatus comprising a supply means, a tank containinga processing medium, tensioning and'drying means, the combination 'with said drying means of means adjustably-located within the extent of said drying means for engaging said yarn at the point where the processing medium on said yarn attains a tacky or adhesive state whereby the loose fibersof said processed yarn are forced permanently into the body of the yarn, and whereby said yarn is formed into final cross-sectional shape.

19. In a yarn'processing apparatus comprising a supply means, a tank containing a processing medium, tensioning and drying means, the combinationwith said drying means, of means located within the extent of said drying means for moving loose, fibers protruding beyond the surface of the yarn into contact therewith at the point where the processing medium on said yarn attains a tacky or adhesive state.

20. The method of treating a plurality of yarns simultaneously which comprises the steps of passing the plurality of yarns simultaneously through a sizing medium, removing the excess sizing medium from the yarns and simultaneously equalizing the tension of all of said yarns, controllably tensioning said plurality of yarns while the same pass throughout a circuitous drying path, maintaining said tension substantially constant on each yarn and in correspondence with the other yarns throughout said drying path, and moving the protruding flbersof the surface of said yarns against said surface at a point in the drying path where the sizing medium on the yarns attains a tacky or adhesive state.

21. The method of treating a plurality of yarns simultaneously which comprises the steps of passing the' plurality oi yarns through a sizing medium, removing'the excess sizing medium from the yarns, controllably tensioning said plurality of yarnswhile the same are passing throughout a circuitous drying path, and maintaining said tension substantially constant on each yarn and in correspondence with the other .40 yarns throughout said drying P 22. The method of treating a plurality of yarns simultaneously which comprises the steps of passing the plurality of yarns through a sizing medium, removing the excess sizing medium from 5 the yarns and simultaneously equalizing the tension of all of said yarns,controllably tensioning said plurality of yarns while the same pass throughout a' circuitous drying path, whereby said plurality of yarns are subject to an identical method of treatment.

23. The method of treating a plurality of yarns simultaneously which comprises the steps oi passing a plurality of yarns simultaneously through a sizing medium, removing the excess sizing medium'from the yarns, controllably tensioning-said plurality of yarns while the same pass throughout a circuitous drying path, and moving the protruding fibers of the surface of each of said yarns against its surface at a point in the drying path where the sizing medium on the yarns attains a tacky or adhesive state.

24. A scraper and tension equalizing unit for yarn processing apparatus adapted to treat a plurality of yarns simultaneously comprising a plurality of individual means one for each of said yarns and each including a pair of members arranged for relative movement transverse to the axis of the yarn and constructed to engage substantially the entire surface thereof, and

" means whereby said pairs of members engage each yarn under substantially uniform conditions of pressure, whereby said yarns are relieved of excess processing medium and are substantially equally tensioned as they are drawn through said unit.

25. In combination a device for simultaneously treating a plurality of yarns including a yarn tension mechanism, independently yieldable means located between the entrance to said device and said yarn tension mechanism and comprising a pair of members for each yarn arranged for relative movement transverse to the axis of-the yarn and constructed to engage subsubstantially equal conditions of tension.

HENRY JANSSEN. 

